Dominique Moody, N.O.M.A.D.

“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.”

– Harriet Tubman

Dominique Moody’s creative journey began early in life as the sixth of nine children born of African-American parents in 1950s Germany. With such an unusual beginning, her life’s journey was bound to unfold into an odyssey of creative living. Through these experiences came her first language in which creativity played a vital role to communicate her thoughts and ideas to others. These tools of expression and insight included the way in which she described her family’s pattern of movement as being “nomads” by choosing a nomadic way of life.

The movement from place to place also provided Dominique with an understanding about architecture and the art of having to create and recreate home over and over again in different environments and circumstances. Yet her stability was maintained by the family’s idea that “home resided within them, no matter where they were”. Philadelphia was one of many places wherein finding a home in the 60s was a constant pursuit. Her family found that only the most neglected homes were available for minorities to own, but still they would manage to transform these places not by the use of capital, but by their self reliance, hard work and creative imagination. Therefore, creating “home” was a family affair and as young children they learned the skills of being basic home builders. However despite the family’s efforts of sweat equity, they were still denied the homeownership “dream”.

Almost 50 years later, Dominique’s dream of her nomadic art home is now being realized in the footprint of a tiny mobile dwelling titled on its license plate as “NOMAD 46” which reflects her number of places of residence to date. Her epic journey continues, trailblazing an uncharted paths ahead and hoping that many will follow her lead.